AUSTRALIAN Hi^l'.Illt.t: MctTl.l.urn AM" (Mlll.liV. 287 



Coloiir-tinnli)i<i. — Body completely bleaclied after long; preservation 

 in alcohol. The spines of the tii-st dorsal dark towards tlie tip ; second 

 dorsal with some large light spots near the base and on the [)osterioi' ravs. 

 Caudal with s(mie obscure darker spots. For details of the cohnir- 

 maiking of fresh specimens, see Ogilby-'' and Waite-K 



Described from a specimen 87 mm. long, from the Clarence River, 

 which is believed to be one of Krefft's typical specimens. Its histoi-y is 

 incomplete, but it tallies with the original description. 



Se.riin] illiiiorphi'siiii. — Two examples in the Macleaj' Museum from 

 the Tweed River, 66-67 mm. long, exhibit sexual dimorpliism similar to 

 that which we have described and figured under ('. kJuHziiKjpri. In the 

 laiger example the space between the snout and the doisal fin is greatly 

 swollen, the profile forming a very convex curve ; in the smaller specimen 

 these parts are normal. They agree in all other details of both form and 

 colour-nrarking, and are clearly identical with ( '. coiirpres^V';. 



Variiiliuit. — Nineteen specimens from several localities, indicate that 

 this species varies considerably both in its general form and colour- 

 marking. Adults of about the same size from Jervis Bay and Port Darwin 

 have the depth at the venti'als 46 (C. iDiuji) and 8-8 (('. elevntns) 

 respectively, but others are more or less intermediate between these 

 extremes. The number of fin rays and spines, and the scales, vary as 

 follows: D. vi-vii/9-10; A. 10-12; Sc. long. 27-30; Sc. tr. 9. The 

 striking colour-marking of the vertical fins as described and figured by 

 Ogilby and Waite is characteristic of adult specimens in breeding condition, 

 and it is apparently more or less developed in all fresh examples, but 

 may be indistinct in specimens in alcohol. Variation similar to the 

 foregoing was noted by Giinther in 1867. 



Sytioin/iini. — The variation in form of this species has caused several 

 authors to bestow a number of names upon it. 



The identity of Eleotn's hrevinistris, Steindachner, and C. ronqires^ii^, 

 Krefft, was recognised by O'Shauglmessy in 1875. 



Though differing from its description in several important details, 

 the specimen in the Macleay Museum labelled as tJleotris elevatK." from 

 Port Darwin, is evidently that on which Macleaj' founded the species. It 

 agrees well with his crude figure, and is structurally similar to C. 

 rompressns, and exhibits traces of the characteristic markings of that 

 species. It has the following characters. D. vi/8?, both tins imperfect ; 

 A. 10 ; twenty-eight rows of scales between the upper base of the pectoral 

 and the hypural joint, and nine between the anterior dorsal and anal rays. 

 Depth at ventrals 33 in the length to the hypural joint, head 3'5 in the 

 same. Eye equal to the length of the snout, 46 in the head, and 16 in 

 the interocular space. 



Eleotiis relieiildliiK, Klunzinger, also from Port Darwin, is evidently 

 based on a rather slender, and imperfectly marked example of U. 



com2irest<ii!<. 



2s Ogilby— Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.Wales, xxi.. 1897, p. 73;]. 



■^* Waite— Eec. Austr. Mus., v., 1904, p. 280, pi. xxxiv., fig. 1. 



